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“But he needs help. He’s never ridden a horse before. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“That’s easy for you to admit now, and to have that grown-up perspective on. But for him? It’s a lot harder to own. So when you said he needed help, it was a challenge to his ego, since his sister didn’t need help. And giving him an out–saying thatIneeded help–allowed him to ride with assistance without feeling like he lost cool points in front of an older boy. Win-win.”
I shook my head in wonder. “You really are a marvel. I would have just insisted he ride with me and not really understood why he was so upset.”
“Well, logic is helpful, but kids are mostly emotional creatures.”
“Not my eldest,” I chuckled. “That girl rivals my battle-hardened commander for stoicism. Is being born middle-aged a thing?”
This time Ellie laughed loudly. “You mean that girl?”
She pointed, and I followed her finger. Clearly the festival had some sort of arts and crafts booth–my daughter had two blotches of bright pink paint on her cheeks, and was racing madly after Ava, whose hands were coated in the same color. The girls emitted peals of laughter as they darted around festival goers, whose eyes trailed after them in delight. The two radiated joy outward, like ripples in a pond.
A smile spread across my cheeks and tears prickled my eyes. I couldn’t remember the last time I heard Olivia laugh like that—full, high-pitched belly laughs that were pure joy.
“Alright, point taken, she actuallyisa nine-year-old girl. So it must just be me who makes her devoid of all happiness.”
The very thought confirmed every fear I had harbored deep in my chest: my kids were miserable with me. It was my fault Ethan was so moody and Olivia so joyless. Always my fault.
My expression must have changed to reflect my thoughts, because Ellie stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself. I’m sure things were hard when your wife left, and now they’re just getting used to a new routine. But as you can see,” the girls raced past us laughing, Ava circling in a loop and Olivia hot on her heels, which made Ellie smile fondly, “they’re adapting well.” Her eyes trailed the girls then settled on mine, and her smile widened. “You’re doing a great job. I promise.”
A thick lump formed in my throat, so large I couldn’t swallow. I didn’t know until that moment how much I’d needed someone,anyone, to say those words to me.
I held her gaze for much longer than I should have, and when I spoke, my voice was unexpectedly rough. “I’m not sure you’re right, but thank you all the same.”
“Oh, I’m right. I wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
“Well, thank you again.” Somehow things had gotten more awkward, and I was entirely at a loss as to what to say next. We reached the end of the row and turned around, heading back toward the lawn games and my suddenly mischievous children.
As we passed a booth sponsored by Aspen Ridge Brewery, a leggy brunette in jeans and a flannel shirt immediately approached us.
Ellie cleared her throat. “Jake, I’d like you to meet my friend Tessa. Tessa, this is Jake.”
I held out my hand for a shake, and Tessa shook it vigorously, her green eyes rolling over my body speculatively. “Nice to meet you,Jake,” she said at last with a wide grin. There was a hint of meaning in the way she said it that was clearly not meant for me.
“You too, Tessa. Have you known Ellie long?”
Her eyes darted to Ellie, and she answered with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “We’ve been friends since elementary school, actually. Ellie’s parents didn’t really approve of their princess being friends with a townie, but somehow they couldn’t get rid of me.”
“Now that’s not true,” Ellie protested. “Aspen Ridge is our home, so technically I’m a townie, too. And they just didn’t like that you were constantly getting me in trouble.”
“Not fair. We got in trouble together. It was 50-50.”
“Well, I never got in trouble before I met you, so draw whatever conclusions you like.”
The pair of them bantered like siblings, and I couldn’t help chuckling. “Well, Tessa, I look forward to a long chat with you soon. I’m sure you can give me all sorts of dirt on Isabelle Tremont.”
A wicked smile took up residence on her face. “You bet your ass I can. Did Ellie tell you about our junior prom? She-”
“THAT’S enough,” Ellie said loudly, stepping between us. “We’d better be moving along.”
“I’ll find you later,” Tessa said with a wink before returning to her booth.
“She seems nice,” I commented as we walked away.
“She’s… Tessa,” Ellie answered with a laugh. “Watch out for that one. She can strike like a cobra if you’re not paying attention.”
We continued making our way back toward the games, but a bear of a man with an auburn beard and a young athletic woman with platinum blonde hair stopped us.
